Hi Ronni Thank you for your, as usual, concise information. Thanks too to all who responded to my query. A ludicrous situation in this day and age but at least the situation is now clear.
Kind regards Laura Sent from my iPad On 20/08/2012, at 11:07 AM, Ronda Brown <[email protected]> wrote: > Hi Peter & Severin, > > Could being 'forced' to purchase Windows to complete your Tax Return online > be classed as "buying tax reference material" > > <http://www.ato.gov.au/content/00313848.htm> > > "Expenses for the preparation and lodgment of your tax return and activity > statements include costs associated with: > • buying tax reference material" > > I use a Tax Consultant, and 'part' of his fee is a Tax Deduction; probably > 'part' because he charges me far too much :( > "Fees paid to a recognised tax adviser are deductible in the year you incur > them"... > > It amazes me how the ATO get away with not supporting other operating systems. > Their reasoning 'Why' is just NOT good enough! > > /Quote > Why isn't e-tax compatible with non-Windows operating systems? > > In considering the ongoing development of e-tax, a number of factors are > taken into account which have an impact on our ability to provide taxpayers > with a platform independent solution. Our highest priority each income year > is updating e-tax so that it is compatible with changes to tax legislation to > ensure the current level of service for 2.6 million taxpayers is maintained. > We must allocate information technology resources necessary to achieve this > before other enhancements can be considered. > > Will this change and when? > > Since 2007, we have continuously undertaken work to explore whether > technology is available to make e-tax compatible with other operating > systems, without necessitating a major redevelopment. > > In 2011-12, due to recent developments in the technology used to produce > e-tax, we have worked toward an e-tax application for Apple Mac systems. > However complexities in applying this recent technology, including issues > associated with the ability to meet the required level of security and > usability (including for vision impaired users) mean that we are unable to > make e-tax compatible with Apple Mac systems to allow users to prepare and > lodge their 2012 tax return at this time. > > We are however continuing to work through these issues with a view to > delivery of a version suitable for Mac users in 2012-13. > We are also investigating, as a longer term solution, a move to a web-based > e-taxproduct. One of the major considerations in doing this will be balancing > the need for greater usability and our security requirements to ensure that > taxpayer information is protected - particularly with mobile computing > devices. > /End Quote: > > Quote taken from here: > <http://www.ato.gov.au/individuals/content.aspx?menuid=0&doc=/content/73931.htm&page=2> > > > Cheers, > Ronni > > On 20/08/2012, at 9:44 AM, Severin Crisp <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Now that is an interesting thought, Peter! >> >> On 20/08/2012, at 8:52 AM, Peter Hinchliffe <[email protected]> >> wrote: >> >>> >>> On 19/08/2012, at 1:50 PM, Severin Crisp <[email protected]> wrote: >>> >>>> Not quite correct, Laura. You need to have an emulator or similar to run >>>> Windows and then eTax is straightforward. This has been an ongoing gripe >>>> for years. >>>> Severin Crisp >>>> >>> >>> Yes, and this is the Department's official solution for Mac users, but they >>> should stop calling it a free service. It still can't be used without >>> forking out for a copy of Windows, which Mac users generally try to avoid. >>> I wonder if that could be a tex deduction... >>> >>> Peter Hinchliffe Apwin Computer Services >>> FileMaker Pro Solutions Developer >>> Perth, Western Australia >>> Phone (618) 9332 6482 Mob 0403 046 948 >>> -------------------------------------------------------------------- >>> Mac because I prefer it -- Windows because I have to. > > -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- > Archives - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/archives.shtml> > Guidelines - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml> > Settings & Unsubscribe - > <http://lists.wamug.org.au/listinfo/wamug.org.au-wamug> -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- Archives - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/archives.shtml> Guidelines - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml> Settings & Unsubscribe - <http://lists.wamug.org.au/listinfo/wamug.org.au-wamug>
